Radial ore-distributer.



PATENTED JUNE '4, 1907.

P. ARGALL.

RADIAL ORE DISTRIBUTER. Arrmonlon IILBD JAH.5,1907.

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noenfoz 3 Witnmca Q. mK/ZMM UNiTED s'rn ras PHILIP ARGALL, OF DENVER,COLORADO,

RADIAL OBE-DISTRIBUTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 5, 1907. Serial No- 350.930.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP ARGALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and'State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Radial Ore-Distributers,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the mechanical distribution of metalliferoussands or pulverulent ores in the circular tanks employed in thelixiviation departments of cyanid plants and similar situations, inwhich it is important to lay the material in regular and uniform layersfor treatment.

Said invention is an alternative means to that shown in my copendingapplication Serial No. 317485, for the mechanical conveyance anddistribution of such ores, in which class of devices the ore is broughtto the tanks arranged in line, preferably by belt conveyers anddelivered over the center of each tank, where a vertical rotatory shaftis provided carrying at its foot ahorizontal conveyer extending radiallyfrom the center to the circumference of the tank, which slowly revolveswith the shaft similarly to the hands of a clock, and at the same timehas a radial progressive motion in its conveyer portion which carriesthe sand outward to all parts of the tank as it progresses and revolves,means being provided to drop the sand in suitable proportionalquantities as it travels, to insure its equable distribution in evenlayers throughout the tank.

This present invention consists in imroved means for taking the sand asit is brought to the center of the tank and delivering it proportionallyso as to insure its uniform distribution in even layers as abovedescribed. I

In the-drawings forming a part of this specification; Figure 1 is a sideview of my improved radial distributer. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of theadjustable sectoral slot of the delivery frame; Fig. 3 is a crosssection of said slot, enlarged. Fig. 4 is a plan view enlarged of aportion of the conveyer belt, showing the mode of attachment of thescrapers.

Similar numerals indicate similar parts in the different figures of thedrawings.

5 is a portion of the circular tank over which the distributer islocated, 6 being a marginallflange on the edge of said tank on which theouter end of the distributer frame is carried and runs on rail 6. 7 isthe frame of the distributer carrying the endless conveyer belt-8, whichis supported and runs on rollers 9 located at suitable intervals. Saidbelt is mounted on pulleys 10, 11, the outer one (11) of which ispreferably adjustable for tension. 12 is a wheeled carriage supportingthe outer end of the distributer frame 7 to run on rail 6 mounted on themarginalfiange of the tank. Both the distributer frame and the conveyerbelt derive their motions by means not novel to this invention, theprimary element here shownbeing the rotatory shaft 14 located centrallyoverthe tank, said shaft being in practice carried on a movable carriageor so called tripper of which 15 is the bottom member. 16 is astationary gear firmly secured to said bottom member. 17 is arectangular spider frame secured to the foot of'said rotary shaft 14, towhich is pivoted by bolts 18 the member 19 which carries the inner endof distributer frame 7 in such manner as to permit flexibility ofmovement to the outer end as it travels around the tank. 20 is a bracketarm branching from the spider frame 17, carrying a sleeve 21 in which ismounted the short up right shaft 22 having pinion 23 in mesh withstationary gear 16 and geared at its lower end to sprocket wheel 24,supported from frame 17 by bracket arms 25, which sprocket wheel ischain geared to sprocket pinion 26 on shaft of pulley 10, whereby theconveyer belt 8 is driven longitudinally when shaft '14 rotates while atthe same time the distributer frame and belt move angularly around thetank by the rotation of shaft 14 to whichsaid frame is centrally securedat its inner end. 27 is a receiving hopper into which the pulverulentores are introduced by means not herein shown, and 28 is a discharginghopper which delivers the said ore to the conveyer belt; all of whichbeing foreign to this present invention need not here be moreparticularly described.

29 are scrapers, preferably of sheet metal, riveted or otherwise secured.to the outer surface of the traveling belt 8. Said scrapers are set onthe belt preferably at an angle of from 10 to 20 degrees from thenormal, in.

cliued toward the center to facilitate the movement of the sands towardthe central line as they advance. The arrow indicates the direction oftravel. These scrapers claw the sand from the delivery hopper 28 as theymake the turn over pulley 10 and move it Patented June 4, 1997.

- but they are overlaid by the metal plates 33,

which extend at the edges slightly beyond the wooden support, as shown,to promote free discharge and avoid choking, particu larly near thecenter, where the sectoral slot is necessarily narrow.

The belt and the plane on which it travels are considerably wider thanthe sectoral slot, so as to carry suflicient ore outside of the slotnear the center of the tank to keep the slot supplied as the materialtravels outward. The belt is preferably inclosed at the sides to preventthe material from falling outward, and these inclosures aid .in forcingthe ore toward the slot under the action of the scrapers. The radialcharacter of the edges of the slot insures the proportional discharge ofthe material in accordance with the expanding area to be covered as thematerial advances, with great simplicity and accuracy.

The mode of operation is as follows: Pulverulent ore being supplied tothe apparatus by means not a part of this invention, falls intoreceiving hopper 27, and thence drops through spider frame 17 intodischarging hopper 28. The machine being set in motion the rotatingcentral shaft 14 carries with it the radial distributer frame in anannular sweep around the tank and at the same time through theconnecting gears above described the conveyer belt 8 is caused to travelin the direction indicated by the arrow. The scrapers affixed to saidbelt remove the sands in suitable quantities and carry them outwardalong the metallic bottom of the distributer, where they fall throughthe sectoral slot in a constant shower in due proportional qkiliantityas they advance outward toward t e periphery, being thus evenlydistributed around the tank by the circular sweep of the,

conveyer and the combined radial delivery. The material is thusdeposited in uniform layers with mathematical precision. To insure thatsufficient sand shall be carried to the periphery, and on the other handthat no surplus shall remain to be carried up over the foot pulley 11the slot adjustment means is operated until correct delivery isobtained.

I claim,

1. In an ore distributor, in combination, a vertical rotatory shaft, aho per in proximity to said shaft, a horizonta frame pivotally securedat one end to said shaft, an endless conveyor belt mounted on saidframe, scrapers on the outer surface of said belt, gearing between saidvertical shaft and said belt whereby the latter is caused to travellongitudinally when said shaft is in rotation, and an adjustable slottedbottom to said frame over which said scrapers travel, substantially asspecified.

2. In an ore distributer, in combination, a circular tank, a verticalrotatory shaft mounted centrally over said tank, a mar inal trackway onthe ed e of said tank, a ori-.

zontal frame pivotally secured at one end to said shaft, sustained atits other end by a wheeled support running on said trackway, an endlessconveyer be t mounted on said frame having scrapers at intervals on itsouter surface, gearing between said vertical shaft and said belt wherebythe latter is caused to travel when said shaft isinrotation,

a bottom to said frame having an adjustable angular slot with radialsides, and means for adjustin the angular opening of said slot,substantially as specified.

v3. In an ore distributer, a conveyer frame, an endless traveling beltmounted on said frame, having scrapers attached at intervals to theouter surface thereof, a bottom to said frame having a sectoral slottherein over which said scrapers pass, and means to adjust the angularopening of said slot, substantially as specified.

4. In an ore distributer, a conveyer frame, horizontally disposed,having the bottom thereof formed with an adjustable sectoral slot, meansto adjust the angular opening of said slot, a series of movable scraperscarried on said frame, moving over said slot, a vertical driving shaftfor said frame, means for moving the frame around said shaft, and

-means to simultaneously move the scrapers radially relative to saidshaft, substantlally as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my' name to this specification in thepresence of two subscrlbmg wltnesses.

PHILIP ARGALL.

